Ex-Argentina striker, Sergio Aguero, has insisted that Vinicius Junior will still win this year’s Ballon d’Or despite a poor outing at the 2024 Copa America.
Vinicius scored twice as the Selecao reached the knockout stages of the tournament.
But the Real Madrid winger was suspended for the quarter-final defeat to Uruguay.
Before the tournament, Vinicius Jr was regarded as favourite to win the Ballon d’Or after Madrid won LaLiga and the Champions League. And Aguero is adamant that the 24-year-old is still on track.
“Ballon d’Or? Viní Jr. didn’t disappear in Copa America. It’s just that Brazil are going through a tough time and he needs a good team,” Aguero said.
“I look at the whole season, and Viní had an incredible season, this season, he was better than Mbappé.
“It doesn’t mean he’s a better player than Mbappé. But this season, he was better.
“For me, Mbappé is much more complete. But this season, every time Vini got the ball in the middle of the pitch, you can feel danger.
“Mbappé, when a team is in a deep block, it gets hard for him. Vini is a lot more skilled there.”
“This season, Viní and Bellingham were key for Real Madrid, I love Bellingham and I’d rather he got the Ballon d’Or, but you have to acknowledge that Viní was widely superior this season.”
Ballon d’Or: He was better than Mbappe – Aguero names player to win award